Hernando de Alarcon

Spanish Navigator and Explorer

Born: Unknown

Died: (fl. 16th Century)

In 1540
Alarcon commanded two supporting ships on Francisco
Vasquez de Coronado's overland expedition from Mexico to
what is now the Southwestern United States. Alarcon's
vessel made it to the head of the Gulf of California and
proved that there was no water passage from the Gulf to
the Pacific Ocean (Then known as the "South Sea"), a
matter of great debate and concern at the time.

Alarcon continued on to the Colorado River and was one
of the first Europeans to ascend the river. On a later
voyage, Alarcon reached a point near Yuma, Arizona, and
explored many of the lower reaches of the great
waterway.